Ryan Gravenberch has responded to the mass boos that greeted the Liverpool players at the full-time whistle after Arne Slot’s men had to settle for a disappointing 1-1 draw against Chelsea.
If you had to pinpoint a glaring positive from the 1-1 draw, Ryan Gravenberch’s performance from the middle of the park would sit right at the top of the list.
The Dutchman got the ball rolling for the Reds when he curled home a beautifully taken effort after only six minutes had been played, with his early strike even labelled as “exquisite” by the TNT Sports commentators watching on.
Amazingly, by scoring this opening strike, all of Gravenberch’s ten strikes for the Reds have come against ten different opponents.
The momentum shifted dramatically for the Reds from that point on. In the 35th minute, Enzo Fernández leveled the score at 1-1 with a perfectly weighted free-kick that floated into the back of the net.
Following the brilliance of the number 38’s opening goal, Liverpool’s performance turned surprisingly toothless, leaving the traveling fans frustrated as the initial spark faded into a lackluster away display.
This lifeless display, past Gravenberch’s memorable opener, resulted in boos ringing out all around at Anfield at the full-time whistle, with the home crowd even making their feelings known while the game was still plodding on, as Rio Nguhoma being substituted off was also met by a chorus of boos.
Following the match, the midfielder faced the press to address the growing tension among the Anfield faithful. He didn’t hold back, offering a blunt critique of those who chose to jeer the squad during such a difficult stretch.
“We need them behind us” – Gravenberch’s reaction to the booing
In a different set of circumstances, the former Ajax star would have cut a much more jubilant figure during his post-match analysis.
Rather than dwelling on the disappointment, he would have been relishing the memory of his spectacular opener and how it paved the way for a dominant Liverpool victory.
Instead, he was forced to address the chorus of boos echoing around the stadium at the final whistle. It was a sobering reality check for Slot’s side, who failed to capitalise on a Chelsea team that had arrived on the back of six consecutive Premier League defeats, only to find the hosts in an inexplicably charitable mood.
He said, when discussing the boos: “To be honest, we need them behind us. OK we didn’t win, but I don’t really think we deserved this [reaction].
The fans have to be behind us for the full 90 minutes because when they were behind us in the second half, we were pressing really well.
We need them. Hopefully they wouldn’t do it again in the next two games.”
Gravenberch does mean well with these comments, as booing obviously doesn’t help the players whatsoever.
But, after being served up another lifeless display for the most part, the Anfield masses deserve to voice their anger, with 90 minutes of full-blooded and energetic football needing to be on display when Slot’s side travel to Aston Villa on the 15th of May, to ensure the same hostile reaction doesn’t greet the Reds at Villa Park.
It wasn’t all doom and gloom during Gravenberch’s post-match comments, however, as the 23-year-old did praise Nguhoma’s energetic display, alongside looking ahead positively as Liverpool tries to clinch Champions League football.
There were some positives to hold onto
Nguhoma’s high-octane offering was a breath of fresh air compared to the slow and passive displays from the majority of Slot’s starting XI, as the 17-year-old starlet completed four out of his five take-ons as a relentless livewire.
Gravenberch openly praised his teammate’s performance after the match, by stating: “It is really good. He is only 17 years old yet we have all seen how he plays.
“When he gets the ball, he wants to take on the 1v1 every time. He is fantastic. I hope he can keep going like this.”
Alongside waxing lyrical about the vibrant teenager’s display, the number 38 also spoke calmly on Liverpool being able to clinch their Champions League status, despite the audible groans at their dire showing against Chelsea.
Slots men only need one win, from their last two games against Villa and Brentford, to be playing football in Europe’s elite competition again next campaign, and Gravenberch spoke coolly about their chances of securing that.
He said: “It hasn’t been a great season from us. There are still two games left so we have to try to win those to secure our Champions League spot.”
Liverpool fans will be looking forward to the end of this topsy-turvy season now, but Gravenberch has consistently stood out as a positive when times have been bleak, with his importance in the first team squad no doubt remaining intact past this campaign’s finish.
